Pike man dies after vehicle crashes into river

DRAFFIN - A Pike County man was killed last week when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a river and trapped him underwater.

Kentucky State Police reports Post 9, in Pikeville, received a call Friday of a single-vehicle accident on River Road in the Draffin community of Pike County.

Louie B. Stewart, 48, of Draffin, was traveling west on River Road when his 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee left the roadway and came to rest on its roof in the river. According to KSP, a passenger in the vehicle managed to free himself and exited, but told police that Stewart was still in the vehicle.

Fire and rescue units removed the vehicle from the water and Stewart was located inside. Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene by Pike County Deputy Coroner Denver Bailey.